Air grip

ABSTRACT

An adjustable grip on a sport&#39;s implement such as a racket, paddle, bat, mallet, club or handlebars, which is made adjustable by having the grip expandable to a desired size, by the introduction of air between the grip and the handle.

This invention is described in my provisional patent application No.60/280,028, filed Mar. 30, 2001 and is a continuation-in-part of mypending application Ser. No. 10/106,303 filed Mar. 26, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A number of sports utilize implements that have handles. Golf clubs,tennis rackets, paddleball rackets, baseball bats, polo mallets, andtable tennis paddles are just a few. Having the proper handle size for aplayer's racket or club is essential for maximum performance. Hands arenot created equal and come in all sizes and shapes. Every person's handis different and rackets and clubs are manufactured in standard sizes.For instance, tennis rackets come in sizes such as 3½ inches, 3⅝ inches,3¾ inches, etc. In some sports, the sizes are only small, medium orlarge. None of these may be the optimum size for a particular player,and do not give an exact fit for everyone's comfort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Applicant's invention comprises an adjustable grip on a racket or club,which is made adjustable by having the grip expandable by theintroduction of air under the grip, which is then expandable to any sizedesired. Air pump adjustability already exists in athletic shoes, suchas the “Reebok Pump”, where the wearer puts on the shoes and pumps theinner cushioning until it fits snugly to his or her foot. Ski boots arealso made which can be pumped up with air to provide a snug comfortablefit.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the invention are asfollows:

It is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable gripfor any sport's racket, club, mallet, or handlebars.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple method of sizingthe grip on any sport's implement having a handle, by the introductionof air to expand the circumference of the grip to the exact size desiredby the player.

These, as well as other objects of the invention, will become obviousfrom the following description in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a golf club handle of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the club shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of an unwrapped grip for to be wrapped for aright-handed person;

FIG. 4 is a top view of an unwrapped grip for to be wrapped for aleft-handed person;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section view taken on lines 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a partially wrapped handle;

FIG. 7 is a side view of a fully wrapped handle;

FIG. 8 is a cross-section view taken on lines 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of bicycle handlebars;

FIG. 10 is a top view of an unwrapped grip for handlebars;

FIG. 11 is a cross-section view taken on lines 11-11 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a view of partially wrapped handlebars using the grip of FIG.10;

FIG. 13 is an unwrapped grip that would be placed on the handle at thetime of manufacture; and

FIG. 14 is a cross-section view taken on lines 14-14 of FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown the handle portion 10 ofa golf club. Handle 10 comprises an inner core, such as a central shaft12, a top 14, and grip 18. Grip 18 is tubular in shape and slips overcentral shaft 12. It is attached to central shaft 12 only at the top 14and bottom 16. Grip 18 is manufactured in a spiral, from the top 14 ofhandle 10 down handle 10 to the desired distance, connected at theseams, such as 26 & 28. Grip 18 can also be a separate layer of materialplaced over central shaft 12, attached to central shaft 12 at only thetop14 and bottom 16, and can have or not have a spiral shape.

In the top of grip 18 is an air valve 20 for the introduction of air,which then passes between central shaft 12 and grip 18 via air duct 24.Air valve 20 is a finger pump in which air is pumped in by repeatedpressing of finger valve 20. An air release valve 22 releases the air,when pressed down, through air duct 24. Grip 18 is fastened to centralshaft 12 in an air-tight manner at the top 14 and bottom 16 so that theair cannot escape. Finger pump 20 is a common item, such as the one usedon “Reebok Pump” basketball shoes.

As air is introduced, the space between central shaft 12 and grip 18expands and may be stopped at any point desired by the player, so thatthe handle size may be adjusted to whatever circumference is desired. Anadditional benefit of the air grip of this invention is that it providesa cushioned surface, rather than the normal hard surface of standardhandles, which is easier on the hands and arms, results in lessvibration, and may well help to reduce hand and arm injuries.

Handle 10 is usually made of a durable rubber material and grip 18 canbe made of leather, vinyl, a layer of thin rubber material or any otherair-tight, expandable grip material that can be placed over centralshaft 12. The grip may be made spiral wrapped, and sealed so as to beair-tight, or may be a thin, elongated, circular, solid piece of rubber,leather, vinyl or other material, which is placed over the handle andsealed at the top and bottom only, leaving room between the handle andgrip for the introduction of air.

FIGS. 3,4 and 5 show grips which are adapted to wrapped around thehandle of any sports racket or paddle, such as for tennis, racquetball,squash, table tennis, or any other game using a racket or paddle. FIG. 3shows a grip 30 to be wrapped for a right-handed player and FIG. 4 showsa grip 32 for a left handed player. FIG. 5 shows the cross-section ofeither grip.

Grips 30 and 32 are essentially the same but simply turned over toaccommodate the spiral in the desired direction. Grips 30 and 32comprise a length of grip material, such as those mentioned above forthe grip of FIG. 1, having a flat portion 34, 36 and an annular portion38, 40. Inside of annular portions 38 and 40 is an inflatable bladder,air containing tubular chamber 42, as shown in FIG. 5. Either grip 30,32 is spiral wrapped around the handle of a sports racket and sealed ateach end, such as by tape 44, 46. A finger pump 48, 50 having a pumpbutton 52, 54 is connected at upper end of annular portion 38, 40 tointroduce air into inflatable bladder 42. An air release valve 49, 51 isalso present to release air if desired.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 show the spiral wrapping of grip 32 around a handle 56.Flat portion 36 is overlapped by annular portion 40 as grip 32 is spiralwrapped around handle 56. Inflatable bladder 42 may then be filled withair, by using finger pump 50, to the desired circumference. Grip 32 issealed at the top end of the wrapping by tape 46. Grip 32 is sealed atthe bottom end where the wrapping begins by either tape or adhesive.

FIG. 9 shows the handlebars 60 of a cycle, such as a bicycle, beingwrapped with an air containing grip of this invention. One handlebar 62is completely wrapped by grip 64 while the other handlebar is beingwrapped by grip 68 coming off roll 70. The ends of each grip 64, 68 arefed into the hollow handlebar ends and sealed by handlebar end caps 72and 74. Each grip's wrapping is started at the center of handlebars 62,66, and has a finger pump 76, 78, which is at a convenient location formanipulation by the rider, even while he is riding. The starting end ofgrips 64, 68 is sealed by tape or adhesive, or any other convenientmeans. Grips 64 and 68 are essentially the same but simply turned overto accommodate the left and right handlebar.

FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 show another embodiment of the invention, which isable to be wrapped as either a left or right handed wrap. Grip 80comprises one flat portion 84 with an adjacent annular portion 86.Annular portion 86 contains an inflatable bladder, air containingportion 88. A finger pump 90 has a finger pump button 92. FIG. 12 showsthe grip 80 being wrapped around a cycle handlebar 96. Grip 80 is sealedto handlebar 96 by tape or adhesive 94.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show a grip 100 which is attached to a racket handle atthe time of manufacture of the racket. Grip 100 has two outer flatportions 102, 104 and a central, tubular air containing portion 106. Inthis case the grip does not have to be overlapped as it is attached,since it can be manufactured with adjacent air containing cells. Afinger pump 108 with button 110 is used to introduce the air.

If the player finds that too much air has been introduced into the airgrip, he or she can simply let air out by pressing the air release valve112 and the circumference of the grip will deflate to the comfort of theplayer's grasp.

1. A sport's implement having a handle, an adjustable air-tight gripattached to the handle, said grip comprising a tubular, solid, singlepiece of material, placed over the handle and sealed to the handle onlyat the top and bottom of the grip, means to introduce air between thegrip and the handle for inflating the grip to the size desired and meansto release the air between the grip and the handle.
 2. The sport'simplement of claim 1 in which the grip is spirally wrapped around thehandle.
 3. The sport's implement of claim 1 in which the grip is a thin,elongated, circular, solid piece of material, placed over the handle andsealed to the handle only at the top and bottom of the grip.
 4. Thesport's implement of claim 1 in which the grip is made of rubber,leather or vinyl.
 5. The device of claim 1 in which the means tointroduce air between the grip and the handle is a finger pump placed atthe top of the handle, an air duct for air to pass from the finger pumpdown through the handle to between the handle and the grip.
 6. Anadjustable air-tight grip adapted to be attached over the handle of asport's implement, comprising a length of grip material having a flatportion and an annular portion adjacent said flat portion, an inflatablebladder within said annular portion, means to introduce air into saidbladder and means to release air from said bladder.
 7. The grip of claim6 in which the grip is spirally wrapped around the handle.
 8. The gripof claim 6 in which the grip is sealed to the handle at the top andbottom of the grip.
 9. The grip of claim 8 in which the grip is sealedto the handle by tape or by an adhesive.
 10. The grip of claim 6 inwhich the grip is made of rubber, leather or vinyl.
 11. The device ofclaim 6 further comprising pump means for introducing air into thebladder.
 12. The grip of claim 11 in which the means to introduce air isa finger pump.
 13. The grip of claim 6 in which the sport's implement isa golf club, tennis racket, table tennis paddle, racquetball racket,polo mallet, baseball bat or handlebars.
 14. The grip of claim 6 furthercomprising means to seal the ends of the grip to the handle, said meansbeing fixedly attached to the ends of the grip.
 15. The grip of claim 14in which the means to seal the ends of the grip to the handle is tape oran adhesive.
 16. An adjustable air-tight grip adapted to be attachedover the handlebars of a cycle, comprising a length of grip materialhaving an annular portion and a flat portion, adjacent said annularportion, an inflatable bladder within said annular portion, a fingerpump to introduce air into said bladder and to release air from saidbladder.
 17. The grip of claim 16 in which the grip is spirally wrappedaround the handlebars.
 18. The grip of claim 16 in which the grip issealed to the handlebars at each end of the grip.
 19. The grip of claim18 in which the grip is sealed to the handlebars by tape or by anadhesive.
 20. The grip of claim 16 in which the grip is made of rubber,leather or vinyl.
 21. The grip of claim 16 in which the ends of the gripare inserted into hollow ends of the handlebars and held by handlebarend caps.